A'ja Wilson's single-season WNBA scoring mark likely short-lived. Several players poised to break it

A'ja Wilson has been scoring at a record pace all season long and now she owns the all-time mark for points in a single year.

It has been an impressive run, but it is also unlikely that the record will stand very long.

Wilson broke the year-old record of 939 held by Jewell Loyd on Wednesday night in Las Vegas' win at Indiana. But now consider this: Four of the top five all-time single-season scoring marks have come in the last two years, including Loyd’s.

Part of the reason is the league has several explosive offensive players and the WNBA continues to expand its schedule. When WNBA was launched in 1997, each team played 28 games. From 2003-19, teams played 34 games and last season each played 40 games. Next year, each will play 44 games.

When combining the talent with more opportunities, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Wilson, Loyd or someone else top the number of points the Aces’ star finishes with this year.

Wilson's most impressive number may not be her final tally.

She is shattering the previous scoring average mark set by Diana Taurasi in 2006 of 25.29 points. Taurasi surpassed the previous record held by Katie Smith of 23.09 points set in 2001. Cynthia Cooper set the bar originally with her record of 22.18 points in the WNBA's inaugural season of 1997.

Las Vegas' two-time MVP is averaging 27.31 points and Wilson is on pace to be the first player ever to reach 1,000 points in a single season with the Aces having four games left. That's a 4.5-point improvement per game from her previous best set last season.

“You’re really starting to see a really, really gifted woman come into this maturity stage of not only her life, but basketball career,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “She’s not just the best player in the world, she might be the most loved and adored by her teammates. I mean, this woman is special.”

Wilson has increased her range. In addition to having a consistent 15-foot jump shot, she now hits 3-pointers at nearly a 34% rate.

Not everyone is on a scoring binge. As a whole, scoring is down about a point a game in the WNBA this season with teams averaging 81.8 points.

Here's a look in alphabetical order at who could top Wilson's single-season total point mark next year:

The rookie would need to make a big jump. She is averaging 17 points a game for Indiana, but it wouldn't be shocking to see her numbers skyrocket in the next few seasons. She finished her college career with the most points in NCAA Division I history and has been averaging 23.9 points since the Olympic break — her first extended rest in nearly a year. The only thing that could hold her back is that Clark is her role as a playmaker — she is leading the league in assists.

The Phoenix wing is having a career year on offense, averaging 21.6 points in her first season with the Mercury. She’s improved her scoring nearly every year she has been in the league. With the possible retirement of Diana Taurasi after this season, Copper could get more scoring opportunities. However, with a potential Taurasi retirement looming, Copper could get more attention from defenses.

The Seattle guard's time as the leading scorer only lasted one year, but she could regain it in the future. Loyd is proficient at putting the ball in the basket from anywhere on the court. One obstacle she will face is that there are more scoring options on Seattle's roster now with the additions of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike this season. Loyd doesn't have to singularly shoulder the offensive load as much.

The Dallas guard can put up points in a hurry and has averaged 20.6 points in her career. Ogunbowale has two of the top 25 all-time single season performances for scoring average. Dallas has gotten better the last few seasons and she hasn't needed to score as much for the team to be successful which could lessen her chances of breaking the mark.

The versatile New York forward appears three times on the Top 25 scoring average list which ties Taurasi for the most of any active player. She averaged a career-best 22.98 last season and Stewart is one of the top offensive players in the game. The 30-year-old may approach Taurasi's career scoring mark some day, but with a stellar team around her in New York, she may not need to score as much in a single season to really threaten Wilson's record.

She’s in her prime at 28-years-old and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Wilson continue to score at a record pace for the next few years. Last season she scored 913 points, but routinely sat out in the fourth quarter with Las Vegas up 20 points. Now she’s averaging a career-high 34 minutes a game. The only thing that could hold her back from breaking her own mark would be if Hammon decides to cut back her minutes again.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) smiles during the second half of a WNBA basketball game as forward Jonquel Jones (35) and forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, second from left, look on against Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Liberty won 98-85. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale takes a shot as Indiana Fever's Kelsey Mitchell (0) defends in the second half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark (22) goes to the basket against Las Vegas Aces' Jackie Young (0) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd, right, tries to pass as Los Angeles Sparks guard Kia Nurse defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson (22) goes to the basket against Indiana Fever's Temi Fagbenle (14) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson shoots over Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston (7) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

MUNICH (AP) — Harry Kane broke Wayne Rooney’s record for the most Champions League goals by an English player when the Bayern Munich striker scored four times against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.

It was one of several records broken as Bayern routed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 in one of the highest-scoring games in Champions League history — and an emphatic start to European competition for new coach Vincent Kompany.

Kane took his tally to 33 in the competition by scoring in the 19th, 53rd, 73rd and 78th minutes — three of the goals were penalties — to surpass Rooney's record of 30.

Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot to give Bayern the lead over the Croatian club after his teammate Aleksandar Pavlovic was fouled by Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel.

That drew Kane level with Rooney's record of 30, and he scored his 31st on a rebound after goalkeeper Ivan Nevistic parried Joshua Kimmich's shot in the 57th.

Kane scored two more from the penalty spot to extend his record.

Four other Bayern players scored in the emphatic win and there were two goals for new signing Michael Olise on his Champions League debut after signing from Crystal Palace.

Leon Goretzka’s header in stoppage time made Bayern the first team to score nine goals in the Champions League era. Some teams, including Bayern, achieved that feat in the old European Cup. It was the highest-scoring game in the competition in terms of total goals since Borussia Dortmund beat Legia Warsaw 8-4 in 2016.

Kane has scored 12 Champions League goals since moving to Bayern a year ago and scored 21 before that for Tottenham.

Kane now has 53 goals in 50 games in all competitions since moving to Bayern.

Kane has scored nine goals in his last three games for club and country including two for England against Finland in his 100th international game and a hat trick Saturday for Bayern against Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga.

Kane and Kylian Mbappé were joint top scorers in last season’s Champions League with eight goals each.

Another record was broken when Thomas Müller came off the bench to play his 152nd Champions League game for Bayern. That’s the most for a player for one club, breaking a tie with former Barcelona player Xavi Hernandez. Müller has made the joint fourth-most appearances in the competition of any player.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty sport during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Bayern Munich and GNK Dinamo at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Harry Kane, right, celebrates after scoring his sides 4th goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Bayern Munich and GNK Dinamo at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty sport during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Bayern Munich and GNK Dinamo at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty sport during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Bayern Munich and GNK Dinamo at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Harry Kane scores the opening goal from the penalty sport during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Bayern Munich and GNK Dinamo at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bayern's Harry Kane, right, celebrates after scoring his sides 5th goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Bayern Munich and GNK Dinamo at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Munich's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's sixth goal during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Dinamo Zagreb in Munich, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP)